Lavender Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project, Accra, Ghana
1. Project Overview
The Lavender Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project is a municipal rehabilitation initiative in Accra, Ghana, aimed at restoring and upgrading an aging wastewater treatment facility.
The project adopts an EPC retrofit strategy to improve treatment capacity and effluent compliance while maximizing reuse of existing infrastructure.
2. Client Challenges
The client faced multiple operational and regulatory challenges:
- Long-term deterioration of treatment efficiency
- Effluent quality failing to consistently meet Ghana EPA standards
- Increased organic load beyond original design capacity
- Insufficient disinfection performance
- Limited budget for full plant reconstruction
- Requirement to retain and reuse existing civil structures
Upgrade required without interrupting city wastewater service and without full demolition.
3. Our Engineering Solution
SYNERAQUA implemented a structured retrofit engineering solution:
- Maximize reuse of existing tanks and civil works
- Upgrade biological treatment capacity
- Enhance anaerobic digestion efficiency
- Strengthen nitrogen removal capability
- Add UV disinfection for pathogen control
Process Flow
UASB → A/O Biological System → Secondary Clarification → UV Disinfection → Effluent Discharge
4. Key Technologies & Engineering Highlights
High-Rate Anaerobic Treatment (UASB Optimization)
Improved organic load removal efficiency under variable influent conditions.
Enhanced A/O Biological Nutrient Removal System
Stable nitrogen removal performance under high-load municipal wastewater.
UV Advanced Disinfection System
Ensures pathogen elimination and compliance with discharge standards.
Retrofit-Based Engineering Design
Minimizes civil reconstruction while maximizing capacity upgrade.
Low-Energy Biological Process Optimization
Reduces operational cost while maintaining stable effluent quality.
5. Performance Results
- Treatment Capacity: 2,400 m³/day
- COD Removal Efficiency: >95%
- System Availability: >99%
- Operation Mode: Fully automated PLC control
- Compliance: Ghana EPA discharge standard
6. Project Value
- Restored full regulatory compliance
- Extended service life of existing infrastructure
- Reduced capital expenditure compared to new build
- Improved environmental quality in Accra urban area
- Delivered stable and reliable municipal wastewater service
